The singer said, holding back the tears: "When I signed on to Idol I signed on for one year and I wound up doing two years because I just fell so in love with the show, everybody there... and I didn't know I'd be so moved emotionally by working on the show."

Jennifer Lopez was in tears as she broke the news on Ryan Seacrest's radio show. Copyright [WENN]

What, had she never watched a TV talent show before? The sob stories alone are enough to make omg! go through a box of tissues an episode!

The mum-of-two appeared genuinely gutted she was leaving adding: "Something has to give. I really was dreading this phone call, and you're gonna make me cry.

"I honestly feel the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I have kinda put on hold because I love Idol so much.

"I could keep just doing Idol for the rest of my life but that would be giving up a bunch of other things. We had an amazing run."

Jennifer Lopez pictured with Casper Smart, refused to show off her bikini bod earlier this week. Copyright [Twitter/Jennifer …

The news comes just a day after her fellow judge Steven Tyler quit the show, Simon Cowell has failed to comment although he's no doubt seeing this as an opportunity for his rival show X Factor.

Jennifer's announcement is as second blow to her (male) fans too, on Thursday she shunned the idea of posing in a bikini and let her boyfriend, Casper Smart pose in his swimwear.